The Hindu : National : Work on Chennai, Mumbai metro rail networks to be launched soon

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Work on Chennai, Mumbai metro rail networks to be launched soon

Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: Stating that the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) had received tremendous response since its launch, the UPA government on Monday announced the scheme would be expanded by an additional Rs. 50,000 crore; Rs. 25,000 crore of this will be contributed by the Central government.

Addressing a press conference here to unveil the 100-day Action Plan, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said the new criteria for allocation of funds under the JNNURM would qualify towns with a population of five lakh for funds, instead of the earlier 10 lakh population criteria. The move will add 28 new cities to the existing 65 cities.

Financial assistance

Mr. Reddy said the Ministry had decided to provide financial assistance to metro projects including those in Bangalore (42.3 km at Rs. 8,158 crore) and Kolkata (14.6 km at Rs. 4,874 crore). Work on the Chennai metro (45 km at a cost of Rs. 14,600 crore) and the Mumbai Metro Line 2 from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra (32 km at a cost of Rs. 7,660 crore) would be formally launched now.

The metro project for Kochi would also be taken up for sanction soon. The National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi will get connected to the Delhi Metro with a Noida link getting commissioned in August 2009 and the metro in Gurgaon will become functional in January 2010 and get connected to Delhi by June 2010.

Mr. Reddy said the Ministry had sanctioned purchase of 15,220 modern buses for city transport for 61 mission cities. These buses will be delivered by December 2009.

The government will also take up the issue of organising procurement of such buses in 118 cities with a population of two lakh or more.

To provide the metro experience on bus, Mr. Reddy said, modern buses with low floor or semi-low floor and wide doors, vehicle tracking system, on-line passenger information system, LED sign boards, electronic ticketing, and smart cards are envisaged.

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